Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1: Report from the nairobi study

Pratibha Datta, Joanne E. Embree, Joan K. Kreiss, Jackoniah O. Ndinya-Achola, Michael Braddick, Marleen Temmerman, Nico J.D. Nagelkerke, Gregory Maitha, King K. Holmes, Peter Piot, Hannington O. Pamba, Francis A. Plummer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a significant problem in countries with endemic HIV-1 infection. Between 1986 and 1991, 365 children of HIV-L-infected mothers and 363 control children were studied in Kenya. The overall risk of transmission from mother to child, determined by serologic evidence of infection by age ≥ 12 months and excess mortality in the HIV-I-exposed group, was 42.8% (range, 27.6%-62.2%). Marriage was the only maternal characteristic associated with transmission (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.2; P <.05). Children who experienced growth failure were more likely to be infected. In 44% of children ultimately infected, the pattern of antibody response implied intrapartum or postnatal exposure to HIV-1. Of potential postnatal exposures examined, duration of breast-feeding beyond age 15 months and the mother being married were independently associated with increased risk of infection and seroconversion of children. The percentage of HIV infection attributable to breast-feeding ≥ 15 months was 32%. The frequency of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-I was high; a substantial proportion of infection occurred postnatally, possibly through breast-feeding.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1134-1140
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume170
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1994
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Infectious Diseases

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